The Board of Education of Charles County honored five students at its Oct. 14, 2025, meeting for standout performance in academic achievement, personal responsibility and career readiness. The recipients included fifth graders Ethan Kapombe of Indian Head Elementary School in Indian Head, Tristan Parrish of Billingsley Elementary School in White Plains and Zane Todd of Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary School in Nanjemoy; eighth grader Tony Brazelton of Theodore G. Davis Middle School in La Plata; and Westlake High School senior Denzel Peter-Thomas in Waldorf. The recognition took place during the public session at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building in La Plata, highlighting the district’s monthly tradition of celebrating student success.
This event underscores the Charles County Public Schools system’s commitment to acknowledging growth across grade levels, from elementary through high school. Each student received a certificate and plaque, presented by board members including Chairwoman Patricia M. Dulany and Vice Chair Sunil Weeramantry. The ceremony lasted 20 minutes, with principals sharing brief remarks on each honoree’s contributions. Video of the segment is available on the district’s YouTube channel.
Ethan Kapombe, a fifth grader at Indian Head Elementary, earned recognition for personal responsibility. Enrolled since first grade, he has maintained all 3s — the highest mark — in personal responsibility on every report card. “He comes to school each day ready to learn and always demonstrates courage, persistence and integrity,” Indian Head Principal Shane Blandford said. “He is eager to learn and always puts forth his best effort with all of his assignments.” Kapombe embodies the school’s three Rs: respectful, responsible and ready to learn. He serves as a peer role model by arriving prepared and completing tasks promptly. Outside class, he plays tennis, football and basketball, activities that build teamwork skills valued in Charles County’s tight-knit communities along the Potomac River. Indian Head Elementary, serving about 400 students in the Indian Head area, emphasizes these traits through daily pledges and assemblies, fostering habits that prepare children for local opportunities like youth leagues at Myrtle Point Park.
Tristan Parrish, also a fifth grader, received honors for academic achievement at Billingsley Elementary in White Plains. He has earned straight A’s since receiving letter grades in third grade. Parrish accesses gifted education services in reading and math, recently achieving the school’s top i-Ready reading score. Operating at a seventh-grade reading and comprehension level, he joins a select group of fifth graders taking sixth-grade math, or 6A, via the virtual academy at the Robert D. Stethem Educational Center in Waldorf. Last year, he competed on the fourth-grade math team; this year, he joins the fifth-grade squad. Beyond academics, Parrish participates in sports and music. “He is naturally a perfectionist and takes great pride in being accurate and efficient in all aspects of life,” Billingsley Assistant Principal Jasmine Law said. “He is a safety patrol by morning, and he does the announcements in the afternoons. He is a role model for his peers and sets the bar high for other Billingsley Bobcats to emulate.” Billingsley, with roughly 700 students, integrates gifted programs under Maryland’s state guidelines, which require identification by second grade through assessments like the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test. These services align with Charles County’s focus on advanced learning, supported by federal Title I funds that ensure equity for all 27,000 district students.
Zane Todd, a fifth grader at Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary in rural Nanjemoy, was honored for career readiness. An honor roll student taking sixth-grade math, he plays trumpet in the school band and soccer for Team Liverpool, a local youth club drawing players from across Charles County. Todd’s distinction lies in his culinary passion. “What truly sets Zane apart is his passion for cooking and baking,” Mt. Hope Principal Louis D’Ambrosio said. “He’s known for his chocolate chip cookies, brownies and especially his signature pancakes with sprinkles — AKA ‘birthday pancakes.’” His family enjoys these creations, with his brother often requesting the specialty pancakes. Todd aims to become a head chef, open a restaurant and compete on “Hell’s Kitchen.” Inspired by chefs Nick DiGiovanni and Gordon Ramsay, he practices “chef’s hands” techniques to build speed. He eyes Harvard University or The Ohio State University for college, blending ambition with early planning. “With his creativity, discipline and love for learning, Zane is a shining example of career readiness,” D’Ambrosio said. Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy, serving 250 students in the Nanjemoy area near the Nanjemoy Creek, incorporates career exploration through Maryland’s Ready-to-Work curriculum, introduced in 2020. This state mandate requires elementary schools to expose students to trades like culinary arts via guest speakers and field trips to venues such as the College of Southern Maryland in La Plata, where Todd could access future programs.
Tony Brazelton, an eighth grader at Theodore G. Davis Middle School in La Plata, was recognized for academic achievement. He has earned all A’s and B’s since sixth grade. Enrolled in Introduction to Engineering Design, Algebra and a foreign language, Brazelton will enter ninth grade with three high school credits. A peer leader, he belongs to the Student-2-Student Organization, which pairs students with disabilities and mentors, and the National Junior Honor Society, requiring a 3.5 GPA and service hours. He plays soccer, codes and enjoys video games. Brazelton will attend North Point High School in Waldorf next fall, targeting cybersecurity in college. Davis Middle, enrolling 800 students, follows Maryland’s Project Lead The Way curriculum for engineering, certified by the state education department. This pathway, available since 2018, prepares students for Charles County’s growing tech sector, including jobs at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Indian Head, just five miles from the school.
Denzel Peter-Thomas, a senior at Westlake High School in Waldorf, received honors for personal responsibility. He balances school with a job in the district’s instructional technology office through the Apprenticeship Maryland Program (AMP). “By pursuing an instructional technology apprenticeship with CCPS while still in high school, he has shown initiative, responsibility and a clear vision for his professional path,” Westlake Principal Dana Fenwick said. Peter-Thomas remains active in the Student Government Association (SGA), organizing events like homecoming. “His dedication to both his education and leadership roles highlights his determination to succeed and his willingness to put in the effort required to build a strong foundation for his future,” Fenwick said. AMP, launched statewide in 2015, partners with CCPS to offer paid apprenticeships earning industry certifications. Peter-Thomas logs 15 hours weekly, aligning with federal Fair Labor Standards Act rules for minors. Westlake, with 1,800 students, ranks among Maryland’s top performers per state assessments, supporting 200 AMP participants districtwide.
